CHAPTER 4
1161 Words
Selena experienced the cold morning breeze that blended pine scent with moist soil while she remained at the training area of Neutral Ground Village. Between two large oak trees stood a plot of land which warriors had used over generations until the ground turned hard from their fighting activities under different pack flags.
Survival was the only reason she lingered among them because her role in this place neither aligned with healing nor the weak mate status that Kael deemed her unfit for.
Evelyn maintained her position on the sidelines as she kept her arms in a resting position across her body. "You sure about this?" she asked. "Fighting isn’t like healing. Being willing to hurt others becomes a fundamental requirement in this training.
When Selena looked at him a chill formed in her heart. “I don’t have a choice.”
He approached while looking at her with an expression that showed nothing. “Good answer,” he said. The individuals chasing you after you would have no concern about injuring your body.
Selena tried to suppress the anxious feeling which made her stomach tighten. Throughout her years of medical practice she showed no fear of pain since she used to heal disabled patients with bone fractures and wounds. The practice of delivering harm had always been foreign to her.
She wasn’t sure if she could.
He extracted two wooden training swords from the weapons rack followed by giving one to her. Selena barely managed to catch the blade when it reached her but she lost control of the heavy training weapon. The weapon turned out heavier than she anticipated while its surface felt chill against her holding hand.
The training session at Summer Moor began with elementary steps according to Magnus. “Footwork, defense, and control. The training requires you to outsmart Kael and Lucien because you lack their raw strength. Faster.”
Applewhite clutched the training sword for a firmer hold.
Magnus moved into position. “Try to hit me.”
Selena hesitated. “What?”
He uttered the instruction again while speaking with both firmness and patience in his voice. He needs to feel my current abilities to properly teach me.
Selena paused then raised her sword for a strike followed by her swing. Magnus avoided the clumsy strike with effortless easiness by moving to the side as though he had abundant time at his disposal.
“Again.”
The second swing was stronger but he deflected it easily while his wrist movement sent impacts all the way to her forearm.
Selena gritted her teeth. Years of observing warriors perform training had passed but Selena never actively joined in any training. Through all her years she had positioned herself next to others as their wounds healed while remaining inactive from the actual battle.
She rejected the childhood role she had played for months.
She grabbed the dagger tightly to launch herself toward the target with a lower strike. A brief trace of appreciation passed through Magnus' eyes as he blocked her move.
“Better,” he admitted. “But still too predictable.”
Selena took a deep breath through her nostrils since she already ran out of breath. Due to her experience in enduring tough situations she showed no aptitude for combat activities. The human body which she possessed was created to care for others instead of engaging in battles.
But that had to change.
Magnus withdrew and lowered the weapon in his hands. “That’s enough for now.”
Selena exhaled deeply while lowering her sword from her position. Twisting and thrusting her body in strange ways resulted in burning sensations and pain signals from her muscles.
Evelyn smirked from the sidelines. “Not bad for a healer.”
Selena shot her a dry look. According to Evelyn the statement was meant to be a compliment.
Evelyn shrugged. “Maybe.”
Magnus crossed his arms. Training procedures will resume daily until your physical strength matches your opposing fighters. It won’t be easy.”
Selena used her cloth to eliminate the sweat from her forehead.
The silence ended when Magnus glanced at her for an extra moment before giving his approval. The schedule starts at the first light of day.
Selena bit back a groan. Dawn? She was already exhausted. But she nodded anyway.
She had lost everything.
The struggle to maintain her identity drove her to refuse losing herself under any circumstances.
Later That Night
Only the fire in the corner produced sounds as the small cottage Magnus had given her remained completely silent. Selena remained on the very edge of the bed while gaze fixed on the fire as her mind became a chaotic web.
A burning sensation of rejection occupied her heart as an unchanging sorrow remained there. Kael’s expression had a permanent presence in her thoughts as she listened endlessly to the rejection he had delivered.
Your weakness makes you unfit to be my mate.
She clenched her fists.
No person had ever allowed her beyond weakness so she remained weak.
Her attention snapped at the gentle knock which came at the door. The pounding of her heart forced Selena to tense up while panic seized her throat. She hadn’t expected visitors.
She rose to stand up before walking across the room to carefully open the door.
Evelyn carried two mug steaming from her hands.
Evelyn entered the house without delay and brought hot drinks along with her because she thought a warm beverage would help Selena. She offered the drink to Selena while taking her seat by the fire.
Selena paused before she drank any tea from her cup. The drink was herbal tea with a natural earthy taste combined with moderate sweetness. Her body welcomed the heat from the drink which dissolved the tightness in her muscles.
Evelyn observed her for a brief instant until she let out a deep sigh. “I know that look.”
Selena frowned. “What look?”
Your face reveals that your mind rests on those thoughts about him.
Selena stiffened. She tried to deny the truth but denying it added no purpose to her existence. Evelyn was right.
The thoughts about Kael continued to dominate her mind.
“Does it ever stop hurting?” Selena asked quietly.
Evelyn’s expression darkened. “No. Life teaches you to endure painful memories.
Selena swallowed hard. She preferred to avoid enduring the situation. The pain she wanted to vanish needs to disappear like an aged wound.
She realized in her heart that her emotional pain would not fade away.
Not yet.
Evelyn rested her body in the chair. “You’ll get stronger. Kael will eventually feel remorse about his previous actions according to Evelyn.
The statement made Selena uncertain about whether the speaker wanted to provide comfort.
But she nodded anyway.
At this present moment it served as the so
le existing factor that protected her from complete collapse.
And she refused to break.
Not now.
Not ever.
- Writer
